Bank Of America Merrill Lynch Hires Newtowner

As Business Banking SVP, Senior Client Manager

Bank of America Merrill Lynch recently announced that Newtown resident Paul F. Larsen has been hired as business banking senior vice president and senior client manager for Danbury. As the senior leader in the greater Danbury market, Mr Larsen will provide fully integrated access to a broad array of banking products and advisory services to commercial businesses.

Mr Larsen was raised in Wilton and graduated from Wilton High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Bridgeport. He was most recently employed as senior vice president and chief lending officer at Union Savings Bank, where he spent nearly eight years. While there, he oversaw all lending functions for the bank, including commercial, leasing, residential, and consumer.

Mr Larsen and his wife reside in Newtown, where they raised their three children. He is a member of the finance committee at Danbury Hospital, and a past chairman of the board at Literacy Volunteers of America, Danbury.

The hiring coincides with $10,000 in charitable giving to four Danbury nonprofits. Each of the following organizations will receive a $2,500 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation:

*Amos House — Funding will strengthen Amos House’s ability to provide a transitional living program for employable homeless persons in Fairfield County

*Danbury Children First — The grant will bolster advocacy efforts on behalf of children and families, with a particular focus on parental leadership development

*Housatonic Habitat for Humanity — Funding will enable the organization to further its mission of creating affordable housing opportunities for low- to moderate-income (LMI) families in greater Danbury

*Literacy Volunteers of America, Danbury — The grant will help provide LMI adults with access to English as a Second Language and other academic programs, so that they may achieve economic self sufficiency

“Paul’s hiring, coupled with our charitable giving, illustrates Bank of America’s commitment to the area,” said Bill Tommins, Fairfield County market president, Bank of America. “Whether making loans to commercial businesses or supporting nonprofit partners, we are helping set opportunity in motion for residents of greater Danbury.”